07/03/2009

WATCH: Dog found mutilated in dumpster
A gruesome discovery at an Austin dumpster sparks outrage. A dog was found tied up in layers of black plastic bags. The woman who found the dog believes she was tortured, killed and dumped.

WATCH: Getting a jump on the holiday fun
Many Central Texans who had Friday off, or at least left work early, got a jump start on the July 4th holiday festivities.

WATCH: City's free spay, neuter program in jeopardy
The City of Austin may cut about $200,000 from the free spay and neuter services program.

WATCH: Police, fire chiefs push fireworks safety
Austin's police and fire chiefs say their number one goal for officers and firefighters this 4th of July weekend is keeping you safe.

Big crowd expected for July 4th on Auditorium Shores For thousands of Central Texans, a highlight of July 4th is the annual fireworks and symphony concert held every year on Auditorioum Shores.

Woman found safe
Friday morning at 8, police received a disturbance call from the Balones Ranch Apartments off Highway 183 N. Authorities say the apartment was "trashed," and the resident, 47-year-old Deborah Defazi, was not there.

07/02/2009 WATCH: Low water levels affecting business along Lake Travis When news broke this week that there is now only one public boat ramp opened to the public on Lake Travis, it created panic throughout the community fearing the water was unreachable by boat.

WATCH: July 4 takes on special meaning for some
Senior Austin patrol officer Tony Vanboekhout is living his dream, patrolling the streets of Austin to help to keep citizens safe. The Fourth of July has always been a special day for Vanboekhout. This year he plans to make up for lost time.

Central Texans have options for celebrating the 4th of July
There are a number of public fireworks displays across Central Texas to enjoy this Fourth of July. Here are a few of them.

WATCH: Groups call on Austin to do more to conserve water With Lake Travis water levels at some of the lowest on record, some groups have asked the city to increase spending to conserve water. They say the current drought should be a warning to start conserving now to preserve the lake’s future.

WATCH: Some Austin Energy customers expect jump in bills Some Austin residents have found the triple-digit temperatures more uncomfortable thanks to a spike in their electric bills. "It was a hundred dollar jump just for June and I'm expecting $150 to $200 higher this month," said a North Austin resident.

WATCH: Man stabbed outside fraternity party on West Campus A 20-year-old was stabbed while escorting a man out of a party at a fraternity house on West Campus early Thursday morning, Austin police said. It happened at the Zeta Psi fraternity house in the 2800 block of Nueces before 3 a.m.

Woman dies in Bastrop fire
A woman died Thursday morning in camper trailer fire in Bastrop. The fire happened around 3:15 a.m. in the 300 block of Ponderosa Loop near Texas 21.

07/01/2009

WATCH: Victim, police seek answers in hit-and-run
Austin Police and an Austin cyclist are sending out a desperate plea to the public for help in finding a taxi cab driver who injured a cyclist and kept going.

WATCH: Aggressive panhandling becoming more of a problem downtown Austin police say three times in the past few months panhandlers have gotten violent when people wouldn't turn over spare change.

WATCH: Austonian builders give tour of tallest building The Austonian officially became the tallest building in Austin on Monday when workers completed the top floor, surpassing the Austin 360 condominiums and changing the downtown skyline. •PHOTOS: Building towers over Austin

WATCH: Travis County officials urge caution with fireworks
Fire officials are warning Central Texans planning to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks not to be tricked by this week's rains. Travis County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee says grass in the area is still dangerously dry and combustible.

Pflugerville opens recycling plant It's located in the city's wastewater treatment plant on East Pecan Street and will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

WATCH: Obesity rates rising; cost of care to increase, study says
In the study released Wednesday, 23 states saw adult obesity rates rise since 2008, and the report showed that treating obesity costs everyone financially. The report found the adult obesity rate is 27.9 percent in Texas -- the 14th highest in the nation.

WATCH: Carstarphen visits school on first official day AISD's new superintendent officially started Wednesday. It's been 10 years since AISD hired a superintendent, and Meria Carstarphen is faced with tough decisions -- the preliminary district budget shows a $22 million shortfall.

H-E-B issues voluntary recall for some beef products
In a statement, H-E-B said it does not have any of the impacted JBS Swift Beef products in its stores or in its supply chain. H-E-B says there have been no reports of anyone getting sick in Texas due to this recall.

Local, state officials urge caution as holiday weekend approaches
The Travis County marchal's office described the county as a virtual tinder box, and urged residents to be cautious in setting off fireworks for the Fourth of July. State officials also warned parents to watch their children closely around water.

06/30/2009 WATCH: Mom jailed for leaving toddler in hot car A 20-year old Austin woman remained in jail for leaving her 5-month old baby in a locked car for more than 40 minutes while she shopped Saturday. Maria Elena Aguilera Carrillo is charged with endangering a child, a state jail felony. KVUE's Shelton Green reports.

WATCH: Home appraisal changes making it tougher to sell homes
The real estate industry is already facing some tough times in this economy. Now a new federal rule designed to enhance the integrity of home appraisals by making the appraiser independent from the lender, is making it harder for some people to sell or buy a new home. KVUE's Noelle Newton reports.

WATCH: Teen makes stop in Austin on historic flight A 15-year-old California teen made a brief stop in Austin Tuesday on her way into what she hopes is a place in the record books. Kimberly Anyadike is hoping to become the youngest African-American female to fly a plane cross country.

WATCH: APD trailer uses real-life situations to train officers
The Austin Police Department hopes a virtual training facility inside a tractor-trailer can help its officers learn how to survive and save lives in a constitutionally sound manner.

Austin man, 61 charged with indecency with a child
A 61-year-old man has been put in jail and charged with inappropriately touching a child more than three years ago, and police say they are concerned there may be more victims because they say the man often invited neighborhood boys into his home.

WATCH: Firefighters battle fires from lightning strikes
The Austin Fire Department responded to several calls after lightning struck local buildings. One woman was inside her Southeast Austin house when it was hit.

Forgione takes home $215,000 for unused vacation
Tuesday was the last day for Austin ISD Superintendent Pat Forgione, and he picked up a check for more than $215,000 for unused vacation -- 174 accumulated days to be exact.

Mother accused of leaving infant in hot car According to an arrest affidavit, a police officer heard a 5-month-old boy crying through the open sunroof of a parked car. The baby had a temperature of 101.5.

WATCH: Police suspect alcohol after car crashes into home A car slammed into a bedroom in Pflugerville Tuesday morning, causing a gas rupture and forcing the residents to evacuate. Investigators say a teen driver crashed through a fence and hit the house in the 1100 block of Pitcairn Drive.

WATCH: Plane takes off after toll road landing A plane made an emergency landing on a highway in Williamson County Tuesday morning. It happened just before 9 a.m. on State Highway 130, south of 79.

Austin sets energy demand record
Austinites are using more electricity than ever before to fight off record high temperatures.

Swine flu victim identified
A 49-year old Pflugerville man is now the first person to die in Central Texas from swine flu.

06/29/2009 WATCH: Two month sting leads to hundreds of arrests For 60 days Austin Police worked undercover at the corner of 12th and Chicon. Their goal was to break up an open air drug market. In the end they arrested 282 people. KVUE's Noelle Newton reports.

'No refusal' initiative begins this weekend
Austin police will be on the lookout for drunk drivers as the Fourth of July holiday approaches. The next 'No Refusal' initiative begins on Saturday July 4.

Man arrested in downtown assault
Austin police have arrested a man for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after an incident Friday involving a bandana and a metal padlock.

WATCH: Kindle may not face charges in crash
Austin police are still investigating a case involving a UT football player who has admitted to crashing his car into a West Campus apartment complex.

WATCH: Texas tobacco users and others will see fee increases
Texas lawmakers managed to avoid tax increases in the regular session, but they did raise fees for certain everyday items.

WATCH: Camps take precautions in triple digit heat
More triple digit heat plagued Central Texas Monday as a heat wave stretched into a third week. The 105 degree high of Monday has forced some to take precautions. The YMCA summer sports camp at Town Lake moved inside.

WATCH: Pflugerville man dies from swine flu Austin/Travis County health officials Monday reported a Pflugerville man has died from H1N1 Influenza, commonly known as swine flu. Officials say the man was 49 years old, but did not release any additional details about his death.

Small plane makes crash landing east of ABIA A small plane made an emergency landing and ended up in a field 7 miles east of Austin Bergstrom International Airport Monday morning. No injuries were immediately reported.

Obstacle course aims to put more Austin residents on bikes
Some 1,500 cyclists took part in the New Belgium Urban Assault Ride on Sunday morning. It's a citywide obstacle course, involving everything from big wheels to laundry baskets.

WATCH: 3 trees chopped down at Zilker Park Workers early Thursday began cutting off limbs from a 90-year-old elm tree and two pecan trees that have shaded the Zilker Park playground and Barton Springs Pool for many years.

2 charged in Hays County counterfeit case A second person has been charged with forgery after Hays County sheriff's investigators say a woman tried to buy fireworks with fake money.

Pedestrian killed on SH 130 toll road
It happened around 7 p.m. Sunday when authorities say the driver of an 18-wheeler hit and killed a pedestrian just south of Cameron Road near Pflugerville.

06/28/2009

Zilker Park trees to be cut down
After a heated debate and controversy, the City of Austin is moving forward with plans to cut down three huge trees in Zilker Park on Monday.

House fire in Bastrop County kills two
A house fire in Bastrop County Saturday night kills two people.  Witnesses say a couple in their 80s died in the fire.  

06/27/2009

WATCH: Authorities cracking down on drinking and boating
State Game Wardens Cody Jones and Joel Compos are patrolling Lake Travis. They are cracking down on impaired boaters for “Operation Dry Water.”  It’s a national effort to raise awareness of the hazards of boating while under the influence.

06/26/2009

WATCH: Austinites remember Jackson's influence
As always, Fanfare Friday at Threadgill's featured a variety of music -- but there was a common thread among all performers on this day -- the impact and influence Michael Jackson had on music.

WATCH: Austin sets power consumption record
On Wednesday, the city set a record, with more than 2,500 megawatts of power consumed in just one hour.

Former House Speaker arrested
Former Speaker of the House Gib Lewis was arrested Thursday night on charges of drunk driving.

06/25/2009

Dirty gloves, food prep serves spotted in health inspections
Two South Austin restaurants join a Clarksville favorite on the list of places that failed a surprise visit by the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department.

Man arrested in construction worker's traffic death
Austin police say they've made an arrest in the death of a construction worker killed when an SUV drove through a construction site and hit and man. David Delacerda, 30, has been taken into custody.

WATCH: Central Texans killed in small plane crash
A plane crash in Arizona killed four people from Central Texas. Word of the crash spread quick through Austin's aviation community.

WATCH: Austin cancer patient remembers Fawcett's fighting spirit Farrah Fawcett may have jumped into the world of celebrity as a beautiful blonde in a swimsuit, but that's not how she's being remembered by one of her Austin admirers.

WATCH: Sweltering temps cause health concerns; power supply OK
You don't have to tell roofers or anyone it's oppressively hot outside. While there's a slight uptick in heat-related emergency room cases, for the most part doctors say people are getting the message to stay cool. 

Man charged after wife severely injured in I-35 crash Austin police have filed intoxication assault and aggravated assault charges against a driver involved in an accident that tied up traffic on Interstate 35 for more than eight hours on Monday.

Boat blocks traffic on I-35, south of downtown
A boat fell of a trailer on Interstate 35 in South Austin Thursday afternoon, backing up northbound traffic until the boat could be moved to the side.

WATCH: Governor says special session will begin next week
Texas Governor Rick Perry Thursday called the Legislature into a special session, beginning July 1.

Durham pulls bus contract bid for BISD
Durham School Services, the provider of bus and transportation services for the Bastrop Independent School District, has withdrawn its bid for those services and will lay off 133 workers at the end of the month.

Picketers protest president's health proposals in North Austin About a dozen people walked the sidewalk in front of the KVUE studios in North Austin, upset over President Obama's healthcare proposals and Wednesday night's special -- Questions for the President: Prescription for America.

06/24/2009

WATCH: Record-setting heat grips Austin
Temperatures in Austin shattered a record Wednesday when the mercury soared to a record 105 degrees. It was the hottest day of the year and the second day in a row we've set a record high.

Hays County Sheriff's Office identifies 'John Doe' Hays County Sheriff's Office investigators have identified a man arrested by Texas State University police and accused of public intoxication after putting out a public call for help.

Suspect in 8 Austin area robberies arrested Detectives say Tommy Fox is suspected in eight local business robberies since May 10, including the Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, which was robbed on June 12.

WATCH: Yogurt shop murder defendants released on bond Amid cheers, hugs and kisses, the two defendants charged in the yogurt shop murders walked out of jail Wednesday afternoon on personal recognizance bonds for the first time in 10 years.

WATCH: 'Person of interest' questioned in deadly construction zone crash Construction workers were at a job site in the 11400 block of South I-35 when investigators say a black SUV veered beyond an area surrounded by traffic cones and struck one of the men. The driver then took off. The victim died at the scene.

06/23/2009

WATCH: Waves on Lake Austin spark debate at Austin City Hall
A fiery debate which started on Lake Austin found its way into Austin City Hall Tuesday night.

WATCH: Judge says he'll release defendants if trial delayed
A day after refusing to lower the bond of a man charged in the 1991 yogurt shop murders, a state district judge on Tuesday said he will release the man and a co-defendant on personal bonds if the state delays the co-defendant's July 6 trial.

WATCH: Cyclists ignoring stop signs triggers divisive debate A flood of comments poured into KVUE after we aired video of cyclist after cyclist disregarding stop signs. Some comments aimed for tolerance, but most were angry at the images.

WATCH: Capital Metro says commuter rail closer
Capital Metro still doesn't have a launch date for its rail line, but the transit organization says it is getting closer. Right now, it's putting the system through extensive testing.

Dell Children's Medical Center receives donation for cancer research
Austin's Dell Children's Medical Center got a boost Tuesday in its effort to fight childhood cancer. Hyundai Motor America presented a $40,000 check to fund childhood cancer research.

Austin man arrested on charges of child pornography Jose Alejandro Aranda, 39, is charged with receiving, transporting and possessing child pornography, and, according to the Texas Attorney General's Office, more than 20,000 images and hundreds of videos depicting child pornography were found on his computer.

Travis County calls for voluntary hiring freeze
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to ask all departments to impose a voluntary and immediate hiring freeze on all non-essential positions.

WATCH:Community's call for help triggers drug investigation in Central East Austin Nearly a month and a half after an Austin police officer shot and killed a man at the Walnut Creek apartments in Central East Austin, police were once again at the complex making arrests -- but this time at the community's request.

WATCH: Governor vetoes TV recycling measure
Austin Democrat Kirk Watson says he's stunned by a veto from Governor Rick Perry of a bill that would have encouraged people to recycle their old TVs instead of throwing them out.

AISD approves proposed reorganization
Austin ISD trustees, trying to deal with a budget deficit of $22 million, Monday night voted to approve a re-organization plan proposed by incoming Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.

WATCH: New Austin City Council sworn in
It was a packed house of a diverse group of citizens who made for standing room only at Austin City Hall Monday afternoon. The event was the swearing in ceremony of the city's newest mayor and council.

WATCH: Doctors see rise in spinal cord injuries during summer
There’s a growing risk of spinal cord injuries. Austin doctors say the summer months pose the biggest threat. Jared Dunten, 35, became paralyzed from the neck down during a summer vacation trip in April of 2000

06/22/2009

WATCH: New Austin mayor, council members take office
Much like Wynn did six years ago, Leffingwell is taking over as mayor during an economic downturn and with the city facing budget challenges as well as challenges in the community.

WATCH: Pre-Kindergarten expansion vetoed by Texas governor
Governor Rick Perry vetoed a measure with broad bi-partisan support to expand the state's funding for full-day pre-Kindergarten. The irreversible decision stunned the bill's primary authors.

WATCH: Some cyclists claim police crackdown on running stop signs Austin's cycling blogs lit up the Internet over the weekend with complaints about cyclists being targeted and receiving tickets for running through stop signs. APD says there has not been any type of recent crackdown, but that doesn't mean police won't be writing tickets.

Man accused of hitting police car, DWI
Austin police have charged a man with DWI and failure to stop and render aid. According to his arrest affidavit Richard Diaz, Jr., 37, hit a police car at the intersection of East 7th and Chicon on June 20, and then took off.

WATCH: Judge refuses to lower bond for yogurt shop defendant Attorneys for Robert Springsteen had claimed that DNA from the crime scene proves he is innocent, but Judge Mike Lynch ruled that the Springsteen and his attorneys had not shown that the court should reduce his bail.

Alaska Air adds non-stop flight from Austin
Alaska Airlines Thursday will begin selling non-stop daily service from Austin to San Jose, California. Flights begin September 2.

East Austin pool closed for repairs
The water pump motor at Givens neighborhood pool on 12th Street needs to be replaced, according to Austin Parks and Recreation officials.

Detectives serving warrant stop robbery in Southeast Austin
Austin police officers who showed up at a gameroom in Southeast Austin in order to serve a search warrant ended up arresing two men accused of robbing the business just minutes before they arrived.

WATCH: Candlelight vigil tonight in response to Iran violence Upheaval in Iran has touched lives in Central Texas. Vigil organizers don't want to call it a protest -- instead, they say it's a way to remember those who've lost their lives in the violence and show their solidarity.

Leffingwell to be sworn in as mayor today
Lee Leffingwell will be sworn in as the Capital City's 51st mayor. Leffingwell won the mayoral election last month.

WATCH: Woman injured in downtown Austin crash
Austin police are investigating a crash that shut down northbound I-35 between Airport Blvd and 51st Street. Two lanes were shut down most of the morning as investigators continued to piece together what happened.

AISD to host public hearing on proposed budget
Monday night is your chance to weigh in on Austin ISD's proposed budget for next year. The district needs to close a $22 million shortfall before the spending plan can be adopted in August.

06/19/2009

WATCH: Unemployment up in Texas, Austin
The doors of the Texas Workforce Solutions office are in a constant swing, hundreds walking in and out, with at least one similarity.

300,000 gallons of water may have been lost from open hydrants
The hydrants were on the northeast side of Georgetown. City officials say a fire hydrant flows at a rate of 1,000 gallons of water per minute and opening a hydrant is a criminal offense.

WATCH: Central Texas celebrates Juneteenth
Thousands turned out Friday to celebrate Juneteenth in Austin. City Manager Marc Ott was among dozens of city leaders and celebrities to take part in the celebration.

WATCH: Town rallies behind 3 Elgin children with cancer When J.D. Harkins learned about a child in Elgin who had cancer, he knew he wanted to help. But when he learned there were actually three children, not just one, battling the disease, he sprang into action.

WATCH: It's moving day at Austin City Hall
Over the next three days, city hall building staff will be hard at work -- moving people out, in and around.

Shelter asks for chew treats, toys for dogs during 4th of July
The Town Lake Animal Shelter is asking people to donate rawhide bones and chews to help keep dogs calm during the 4th of July holiday. The shelter is close to the annual Austin fireworks display, and the noise and lights from the fireworks can be stressful for the dogs.

Still no opening date for Capital Metro rail
Capital Metro Friday released its progress report on the status of its commuter rail project and declined to set a date when the rail line would begin operations.

I-35 access through Georgetown reopened after gas leak
A gas leak that shut down a section of the northbound Interstate 35 access road has been repaired, City of Georgetown officials said Friday afternoon.

WATCH: Police investigate early morning homicide It happened around 2:30 Friday morning in the 2200 block of Town Lake Circle at the Vista Lago Apartments. Police say it started with an altercation between two men.

06/18/2009

WATCH: Health inspectors find roaches, mildew in recent inspections
Five restaurants run into trouble with the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department. In Central Austin, Nau's Enfield Drug on West Lynn Street failed its most recent health inspection with a score of 59.

WATCH: Judge considers bail reduction in yogurt shop case
A Travis County judge says he'll decide by early next week whether to lower the bond for a man once sentenced to death in the 1991 yogurt shop murders.

WATCH: Golf course not included in plans for Brackenridge Tract The University of Texas Board of Regents had its first look Thursday at development plans for the Brackenridge Tract -- and the proposals do not include the Lions Municipal Golf Course, known as Muny.

WATCH: Food trailer stolen; owners say thief stole their dream
Jasmine Yates, her daughters and a family friend opened their first restaurant on a gravel parking lot off South Congress in April. On June 7th, a month and half after opening, their trailer disappeared from its South Congress parking lot.

San Marcos to enact Stage 2 water restrictions
The City of San Marcos is enacting Stage 2 drought restrictions Friday -- the first time since September 2006. Among the restrictions, homeowners can only water their lawns with sprinklers one day a week, determined by your street address.

Man accused of attacking a guard during strip search Mario Reyna, 19, is facing numerous felony charges including assault on a public servant, possessing a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence.

Homeless man arrested in woman's assault
Luther Adcock, 48 -- who's known on the streets as "Sonny" -- is facing 1st degree felony charges of burglary of a residence with intent to commit sexual assault.

WATCH: Dive teams find swimmer's body at Lake Pflugerville A dive team Thursday evening found the body of a 19-year-old who went under Lake Pflugerville. Friends told KVUE News the teen swam across the lake and on the way back he grew weak. A friend tried to carry him back across, but also got tired and had to let go.

WATCH: Council members extend music permitting Uproar stemming from a 911 call that caused police to shut down a live music event at an Austin restaurant has prompted city council members to present resolutions aimed at addressing concerns.

City hears input on future website redesign
Citizens gave their input Wednesday night on what types of features they would like to see in the City of Austin's new website. A plan to outsource the website re-design caused controversy ealier this year.

06/17/2009 WATCH: Another attack downtown reveals trend Police make an arrest in another Downtown Austin assault, but the case reveals a disturbing trend. Police say people are punching for fun. The latest victim was leaving Fuze nightclub at 5th and Neches when he was punched and fell to the ground.

WATCH: Central Texans protest Iran's election
Central Texans joined in on the global protests of the disputed presidential election in Iran. Police estimate about 500 Iranian-Americans and other reformist supporters showed up in front of the Texas Capitol Wednesday as part of a show of solidarity with their counterparts in Iran.

Can the Plant Pal help you keep your plants watered?
It's called the Plant Pal -- these fine feathered friends are moisture meters that sing when your plant needs to be watered. For this test, we just needed some dry houseplants -- and our Plant Pal is ready to go.

2 charged after car evading police crashes
Austin police have filed charges against two people who were with the driver of a car killed in crash as it was evading police. Police have now charged Walter Hernandez, 17, and Marco Rojas, 20, with engaging in organized criminal activity.

APD officer's firing upheld
An Austin police officer who lost his job after officials say he paid a woman for sex and then lied about it, will not get his job back. Chief Art Acevado fired Scott Lando in 2008.

WATCH: Trailer food booms in Austin Taco trucks are common in just about any city. And shaved ice is always popular in Austin during the hot summer months. But trailer food in Austin is moving to a whole new level.

WATCH: Acevedo defends decision to bypass officer for promotion
An Austin police officer has been denied his promotion. Chief Art Acevedo named three officers who will move up to the rank of commander, but he bypassed the first lieutenant in line.

WATCH: 911 complaint about Shady Grove music released
The 9-1-1 call for police to pull the plug on the music at the Shady Grove restaurant on Barton Springs Road Thursday, June 11 has been released.

WATCH: City loan program helps second restaurant relocate downtown Annies -- formerly Apple Annies -- was forced to close its doors early last year when the lease on 6th Street wasn't renewed after 26 years. So Annies' owners used the city's loans to help them buy their Congress Avenue location.

Businessman to donate 8 decorated guitars to Austin
Businessman Milton Verret bought several of the giant guitars, which were commissioned by Gibson Guitars and decorated by local artists, and plans to donate eight of them to the City of Austin during Thursday's Austin City Council meeting.

Man wanted, accused of trying to drown woman in river
Police are searching for a man after they say he tried to drown a woman in the Colorado River. It happened just after 6 p.m. at the Montopolis Bridge in Southeast Austin.

WATCH: TxDOT toll payment glitch affects hundreds
Some Central Texas drivers are finding out that money they put into their toll road accounts is simply not there. TxDOT blames the problem on a computer glitch that began a month ago.

WATCH: Texas Senate hopefuls campaigning, despite no election date Republicans and Democrats are fundraising and stumping across the state for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat in Congress, assuming she will resign to run for Texas governor.

WATCH: Man charged in beating outside Fuze nightclub
Police say this is the latest in a disturbing new trend. They've had several reports of people punching out intoxicated club-goers to see if they can knock them unconscious.

06/16/2009

WATCH: Cracks close Central East Austin pool
A popular Austin public pool has been unexpectedly closed for good just as temperatures start to really heat up. Major leaks were discovered two weeks ago when Bartholomew Pool, on East 51st Street, was filled for the summer.

WATCH: City could pull funding from some private park facilities Even the youngest Austinites are not exempt from budget cuts as City of Austin departments across the board look to make cuts to bridge a $30 million budget shortfall. The city's Parks and Recreation Department is recommending cutting its financial support to some private park facilities.

Pipe refurbishment closes lanes on Cesar Chavez
Tuesday morning, a crew from the Austin Water Utility began refurbishing a 21-inch wastewater pipe beneath the street. The work will eventually extend from Interstate 35 to Brazos Street.

WATCH: Boating accident serves as warning on Lake Travis
A boating accident on Lake Travis overnight Monday serves as a warning for boaters -- beware of hazards caused by extremely low lake levels.

WATCH: Study details hazards faced by Austin construction workers The report examined working conditions prevalent in the construction industry in Texas -- specifically in Austin. The most alarming statistic is that a construction worker dies on the job in Texas every two and a half days.

Body found in Williamson County
Construction workers discovered a badly decomposed body along the side of a road in Williamson County Tuesday morning, sheriff's officials said.

WATCH: Austin job market bright as small companies expand At a time when many businesses are cutting back, a growing number of companies in the Austin area are expanding, and job hunters may want to think small and change their style of finding openings.

George Strait to be opening show for Cedar Park event center
The new $55 million events center in Cedar Park will have a star-studded opening night. Country singer George Strait will take the stage on September 25.

WATCH: No relief expected from high gas prices More pain at the pump as prices continue to climb higher and higher, just in time for summer. And experts say they won't be going down anytime soon.

WATCH: Austin budget meeting draws big crowd
For the second time in less than a week Austinites pack a gymnasium to give their two cents on what should be cut from the city budget.

WATCH: Community efforts help save most Zilker Park trees
After a grassroots effort to care for sick trees at Zilker Park, the City of Austin Parks Department recommended Monday that only three of the original 29 trees slated to be cut down will be recommended for removal.

06/15/2009 WATCH: APD goes online to alert public about crimes Police now have a new way to alert the public about crimes within a matter of seconds. The alerts can be delivered via computer e-mail or cell phone texts. Citizenobserver.com is a national program designed to give officers help from the public in solving crimes.

WATCH: Lakes could drop to lowest level in 25 years
Forecasters with the LCRA say if the drought in Central Texas continues through the summer, both Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan could drop to levels that haven't been seen since 1984.

WATCH: AISD extends teacher hiring freeze The Austin Independent School District has implemented a teacher hiring freeze -- across the board. That freeze is expanded from last week, when it implemented a hiring freeze for only elementary teaching levels.

Applied Materials shutdown begins today
About 1,700 people who work for the world's largest maker of chip manufacturing equipment are on leave starting Monday. Applied Materials began a mandatory shut down of its Austin plant.

Council to consider suspending live music ordinance The Austin City Council this week will consider suspending the city's confusing and controversial live music ordinance to allow all issues to be addressed. City Councilmember Mike Martinez is sponsoring the agenda item to suspend the live music ordinance for six months.

Witness helps lead police to bank robbery suspect An alert citizen helped police nab a man accused of holding up a bank in far Northwest Austin Monday morning. The arrest happened within minutes of the bank robbery at the Capital One bank at 11720 RR 620.

WATCH: Non-profits announce effort to save Zilker trees
The fate of more than two dozen Zilker Park trees is expected to be decided Monday night. The City of Austin parks director will make her recommendations during a meeting in downtown Austin.

WATCH: Public hearing tonight on proposed Austin budget cuts The second in a series of public meetings will take place Monday evening as the City of Austin seeks input on ways to close a $33 million budget gap. Some proposals could mean cutbacks for police, fire and EMS.

Young couple killed in motorcycle accident Eric Kaufman and his wife Rosse Torres, both 23, were traveling with a group of bikers to the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally.  Texas State Troopers say Kaufman lost control of the bike in a curve.  Torres was riding as the passenger when the bike skidded on its side and began to flip.

06/14/2009 WATCH: Truck crashes into apartment Seventeen-month-old Frankie Reyes slept inside his bedroom Saturday while his mom and dad watched TV next to him.

WATCH: Williamson County Habitat For Humanity broken into
The Williamson County Habitat for Humanity is trying to replace more than $3,000 in tools stolen over the last few days.

06/13/2009

WATCH: Changes to this year's ROT Rally
For one weekend in June, thousands of motorcyclists rev their engines and roll into Austin for the annual Republic of Texas Biker Rally.

06/12/2009

WATCH: ROT Rally gets underway with parade
A sea of people mingled with a sea of bikes, food vendors, T-shirt salespersons and daredevils on Congress Avenue Friday night for the 15th annual Republic of Texas Biker Rally.

WATCH: Shady Grove owner says music will continue
Mike Young, who owns Shady Grove, said everyone at the restaurant was caught us off guard when the police stopped the music. He said police told him the restaurant didn’t have a permit to operate live music.

Identities of construction workers killed in collapse released
The identities of three construction workers killed in that scaffold collapse in West Campus were released Friday. Wilson Joel Irias Cerritos, 30, and Jesus Angel Lopez Perez, 28, were both from Honduras. Raudel Ramirez Camacho, 27, was from Mexico.

Illegal dumping caught on camera City of Austin officials Friday released surveillance photos of an illegal dumper and asked for the public's help in identifying the culprit.

KOOP-FM arsonist pleads guilty
Paul Webster Feinstein appeared in court Friday to plead guilty to arson. As part of a plea agreement, he agreed to a 120 day shock sentence in state prison, was ordered to pay $134,000 to KOOP in restitution and serve 10 years probation after his release.

South Austin bank robbed
Austin police say the robber showed a note demanding cash from the Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union on West Ben White Boulevard. Police say the robber walked away with the cash.

Sinkhole opens up on East Austin street
Jeff Smith and Jaelene Fayhee were driving down 12th Street as the storm moved through, and they say a small sinkhole formed in the road. That's when the road gave out.

06/11/2009

WATCH: ROT Rally rumbles through Austin this weekend
The familiar roar rumbling through Central Texas every mid-June for the past 15 years is a beautiful noise to employees of The Central Texas Harley-Davidson on east Braker Lane.

WATCH: Burnet County bears brunt of storm damage The National Weather Service is still gathering evidence to determine if the high winds from Thursday night's storm were a microburst or a tornado.

WATCH: Police union agrees to consider postponing or cancelling pay raises
In a letter to City Manger Marc Ott, Austin Police Association President Wayne Vincent wrote that union members "are aware of the economic challenges facing our city…and are willing to consider amending certain provision within the Meet and Confer Agreement."

WATCH: Arborists examine roots of Zilker trees As a citizen group announced a plan to raise private money to save endangered trees at Zilker Park, crews at the park spent the day uncovering the roots of nine once-doomed trees near Barton Springs.

WATCH: Bill aims to keep old TV sets out of landfills Analog televisions will go dark on Friday if they don't have digital converter boxes installed. It's part of the nationwide switch from analog to digital broadcasting. State leaders hope TV viewers plan ahead for the switch.

APD officer honored for valor at State Capitol
Governor Rick Perry and others honored rookie patrol Officer Will Ray with the 2008 Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Valor.

Travis Co. DA to review constable's deputy Taser incident The Travis County District Attorney's Office plans to review a Taser incident involving a woman, 72, and a Travis County constable's deputy. Dashboard camera video shows Kathryn Winkfein being tasered by Deputy Constable Chris Bieze.

WATCH: APD completes initial investigation into scaffolding collapse One day after a scaffolding collapse killed three men and injured another at a work site on West Campus, construction workers tell KVUE News they deal with unsafe working conditions on a daily basis.

Hundreds attend public meeting on Austin budget
Austin City Manager Marc Ott Thursday updated council members on some of the options available to close a $30 million budget shortfall. Hundreds of people attended a public meeting Wednesday night to say what they think about the proposals.

WATCH: APD investigates 36th traffic fatality of the year One person is dead and two others are in the hospital after a car crashed on Harris Branch Parkway in Northeast Austin. Investigators say the car was speeding on Harris Branch Parkway and the driver lost control around a curve. Officers suspect the three men in the car were stealing hubcaps.

06/10/2009

WATCH: Robots help lead to surgery success
An Austin mom is expecting again thanks to the help of robotic surgery. The machine that was was part of a story line on "Grey's Anatomy" is being used successfully right here in Austin. KVUE's Jessica Vess reports.

WATCH: OSHA investigating construction accident
A group of mourners identifying themselves as family members of one of three men killed in a west campus construction accident Wednesday afternoon came to the scene of the tragedy five hours after it happened to see the scene for themselves.

WATCH:3 dead after construction fall in West Campus Makeshift construction scaffolding collapsed at a work site near the University of Texas campus Wednesday afternoon, killing three people. Officials say the structure was at the 11th floor when it gave way and dropped several stories.

WATCH: Webcam captures home burglary Police are searching for two burglars -- caught red-handed on a web camera -- who stole hundreds of dollars worth of electronics from a Central East Austin home. • PHOTOS: Webcam images

Travis County sheriff speaks out on Taser incident
Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton issued a statement Wednesday regarding the publicity surrounding the story of a Central Texas grandmother tasered by a Travis County deputy constable.

WATCH: TABC agent charged with sex assault of a child
An agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is in jail in Bastrop County, accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old volunteer for the agency. KVUE's Noelle Newton reports.

Diocese of Austin closes Euresti inquiry
The Diocese of Austin Wednesday confirmed that it has closed its investigation into the alleged sexual relationship between a priest that was killed in Mexico and his confessed killer, but diocese officials say they were unable to verify the killer's allegations.

Men accused of firing shotgun into San Marcos bar
San Marcos police say two men have been charged with firing a shotgun into a local bar. No one was injured in the shooting. It happened early Sunday morning at the Gold Crown Billiards Bar on West San Antonio Street in downtown San Marcos.

Former Travis Co. prosecutor charged with public intoxication
Austin police say Mindy Montford was arrested at around 2:15 Saturday morning. She was a passenger in a car that hit a pipe in an alley and was pulled over moments later near 6th Street and San Jacinto.

06/09/2009

WATCH: Austin cyclist shot in back
An Austin cyclist is anxious to send out a warning about how he was shot in the back while riding his bicycle on Southwest Parkway. It happened early in the afternoon of Friday, May 1st in the 7600 block of Southwest Parkway.

WATCH: Budget cuts target public pools
Some Austin neighborhood pools may be casualties of budget cuts. But, the city proposal would turn them into a new water attraction. The pools include: Civitan, Kealing, Bailey, Clarksville, Eastwoods, Odom, Palm, St. John’s, and West Austin.

WATCH: Governor sidelined after breaking collarbone Governor Rick Perry broke his collarbone while biking near his home Tuesday evening. "Thanks for the Tweets and prayers. 'First Nurse' was great and I will be in office reading and signing bills Thursday. Bike helmets work!" Perry posted to Twitter.

WATCH: Woman, 72, hit with Taser during traffic stop
The Travis County Constable's Office precinct three Tuesday released the dashboard camera video of a questionable traffic stop on Highway 71. The question is, did the deputy go too far in getting the 72-year-old woman to comply or did her actions along a dangerous stretch of highway warranted her being tasered?

WATCH: AISD freezes hiring for elementary school teachers The Austin Independent School District has expanded its hiring freeze to elementary level teachers. But unlike the freezes at the Central Administration Office that were done for budget cuts, this hiring freeze has nothing to do with money.

WATCH: Beware of Central Texas heat
The Austin/Travis County EMS says it's that time of year when they have to respond to a lot of heat-related emergencies. Officials say they want to encourage people not to make any deadly mistakes.

WATCH: Men accused of running down Walgreens clerk
Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a Walgreens theft after police say they ran down the clerk who had tried to write down their license plate number.

WATCH: Perry won't pardon wrongly convicted deceased man
Tim Cole was posthumously cleared by a Travis County judge earlier this year, but Governor Rick Perry won't pardon the deceased exoneree. He says he doesn't have the authority.

Man charged with hitting cyclist on service road
An Austin man has been charged with failure to stop and render aid after a witness says he ran over a bicyclist Sunday night in Northeast Austin.

3 Austin area schools among Newsweek's top 100
Three Austin area schools have made Newsweek's list of the top 100 high schools in the country. The Liberal Arts and Science Academy is ranked number 35.

Woman with recycling bag robs Austin area bank The robbery happened at the Regions Bank in the 1700 block of Wells Branch Parkway just before 11 a.m. Bank employees told investigators with the Travis County Sheriff's Office that the woman walked in and asked the teller for money.

WATCH: Austin challenged to feed hungry kids During the school year thousands of kids receive a nutritious breakfast or lunch, but now that school is out, many children from low-income households are in danger of going hungry.

WATCH: Austin council considers long list of budget reductions
On Monday afternoon, the Austin City Manager's office released a 300 page proposal of potential budget reductions the city hopes will make up for a deficit between 33 and 43 million dollars.

06/08/2009

WATCH: TABC reveal Austin clubs tops for violations
KVUE News has learned that Spiros nightclub -- a downtown club that closed for good last Friday in the aftermath of a shooting that injured nine people -- is not the worst in Austin when it comes to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission violations.

WATCH: Sunflowers along I-35 mix art with clean energy Work is nearly complete on one of the largest public art projects in Austin history. It's likely most people have driven right past it and didn't even know it.

WATCH: Family members cope after father, 2 children killed in crash
A Spicewood family is trying to cope with the loss of a father and two of his children. Russell Rutland was killed over the weekend in a deadly car crash. His oldest brother, Michael, says Russell was everybody's friend.

WATCH: Rebuilding begins one year after mansion fire It was one year ago when an arsonist set fire to the Texas Governor's Mansion. As the search for the person responsible continues, the rebuilding process begins. "I never thought it would take this long. I thought three or four months and there we would be," said Anita Perry, Texas First Lady.

WATCH: APD targets motorcycle safety ahead of ROT Rally Thousands of motorcyclists are expected to descend on Austin for the annual Republic of Texas Biker rally, and Austin police are taking steps to make sure they're ready for all of that extra traffic.

Father, 2 children killed in Burnet County crash
The driver in a deadly crash in Burnet County has been put in jail and charged after two young children and their father were killed in a crash. It happened Saturday morning on Highway 71 near Spicewood.

Police: Wrong way driver runs away after deadly crash
Austin police are still looking for the man they say caused a head-on collision on Highway 290. It happened about 2:30 on Sunday morning. Police say the driver of a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was driving the wrong way when he hit a Chevrolet Impala.

06/07/2009 WATCH: Neighbors want to see changes to Hamilton Pool Road An Austin area community wants changes on a road it says is too dangerous.  They want safety measures added to the twists, turns, and narrow lanes of Hamilton Pool Road.

06/06/2009

WATCH: Bastrop Animal Shelter recovers Schnauzers
Mindi Morris went to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter Saturday to rescue a Schnauzer. The 87 miniature Schnauzers--some with three-day old puppies--are recovering at the shelter.  Bastrop County Animal Control seized the dogs Thursday night from a home along Highway 95

WATCH: Volunteers work to clean up Lady Bird Lake
Saturdays on Lady Bird Lake and its surrounding trails are always busy. But on Saturday, 100 volunteers came by land and another 100 came by lake to take part in a new initiative to Keep Austin Beautiful.

06/05/2009

WATCH: Big changes to this year's R.O.T. Rally
For the first time in the Republic of Texas Biker Rally's 15-year history organizers are restricting the age of who is allowed into festivities at the Exposition Center. The decision comes a year after an anonymous person took more than 300 pictures at last year's event. Many of the photos show men and women completely nude, some of them in sexually suggestive poses.

WATCH: Undercover cops search for parking lot thieves
Police say thieves are watching your every move in the parking lots along Lady Bird Lake, especially at Auditorium Shores. So this week officers went undercover to try to catch thieves in the act. Police say the thieves are not only stealing items out of cars, in the past month they've stolen three cars.

WATCH: Austin Marine's body flown home The body of 27-year-old Lance Corporal Matthew Reza returned aboard a charter flight to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Friday afternoon.

WATCH: AFD makes progress in remodeling for women Progress is being made in providing private bathrooms for female firefighters in Austin, but for some firefighters, that progress is not coming fast enough.

WATCH: AISD high school seniors graduate
High school graduation is an exciting time and a major milestone in a young person's life. It also represents some big changes as students decide what path to take next.

Former Austin employee sentenced for stealing from American Cancer Society
A former Austin employee of the American Cancer Society has been sentenced to more than 3 years in federal prison for embezzling from his employer, according to the US Attorney's Office.

WATCH: Spiros voluntarily gives up liquor license
A nightclub that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission shut down after a shooting will not reopen. According to the TABC, Spiros voluntarily turned in its liquor license -- canceling its permit -- after a shooting at the club early Friday morning, May 29.

Jasper the horse recovers after surgery
Jasper the horse, a therapy horse at Open My World therapy center in Leander, had surgery this week to remove a cyst and broken tooth and is doing well.

Helicopter crashes in Hays County At least one person was injured Friday afternoon when a helicopter crashed near Kyle in Hays County, Texas Department of Safety investigators said. DPS troopers said the helicopter was spraying a field when it hit a telephone line and crashed.

APD officer suspended for falling asleep on duty
An Austin police officer has been temporarily suspended for falling asleep on duty, according to a disciplinary memo released by the City of Austin.

Plane spots 34 pot plants growing in Burnet County A Texas Department of Public Safety plane spotted 34 marijuana plants growing in the backyard of a home in Burnet County, leading to the arrest of three people.

Hinchey to join EMS as medical director The City of Austin and Travis County have hired a new medical director for EMS. Dr. Paul Hinchey is currently the deputy medical director of the Wake County EMS in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Unregistered sex offender arrested in Del Valle Horace Lee Loggins, 67, was finally tracked down in Del Valle. He was convicted in 1991 of indecency with a child in Travis County, and authorities say he failed to register as a sex offender after his conviction.

Political Junkie: Austin's senator ranks in 'Ten Best' list
In his first term in the Texas Senate, state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, took home Texas Monthly magazine's 'Rookie of the Year' prize. His sophomore year (despite the bizarre ending) was arguably even stronger, and Watson landed on the magazine's "Ten Best" legislators list in its July issue.

Armstrong announces birth of son
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong overnight announced the birth of his son, Max, on the social-networking site Twitter. He said his son and girlfriend, Anna Hansen, are both fine and attached a picture of the newborn.

WATCH: Juvenile crime expected to rise with arrival of summer vacation With tens of thousands of kids out of school for the next few months, it means an increase in crime across the Capitol City. According to the Austin Police Department, juvenile misdemeanors increase during the summer months as kids get into trouble or dragged into it.

WATCH: TABC says nightclub has legal right to reopen
KVUE News has learned that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission says an embattled Austin nightclub has the legal right to reopen at midnight Thursday after nine people were shot there last week.

WATCH: 'These burns are the worst ones that I've ever seen' An Travis County foster mother faces charges of injury to a child after deputies say she scalded her autistic foster child with bath water, leaving him with second and third degree burns. The father says they loved him and were thinking of adopting him.